Chapter Text
When Nezu received the letter, he rubbed his chin in thought. He pulled up his computer and immediately began typing away, quickly figuring out the best course of action. But because he values the opinions of the teachers, he requests them to come in for an emergency meeting. Nezu heads to the conference room, a freshly printed stack of papers in his paws.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard the news about a graduate from here, Gecko Girl, no? Real name Fujiwara Chinatsu?” he asks.
“It’s terrible news,” Sekijiro Kan rumbles.
“Doesn’t she have a daughter?” Toshinori Yagi asks.
“Fujiwara does have a child, yes,” Nezu hums, handing out the papers he printed off. “The child’s name is Shiryuu Summers, and currently on an airplane headed to Japan. It appears as though Fujiwara changed her will not too recently from having Summers be under her father’s care to U.A.”
“Why not the husband?” Aizawa Shota asks.
“He seems to be her ex-husband and regardless, he is the one who killed her. The police are playing it off as a house fire, but it was a murder,” Nezu solemnly states.
“Does that also mean he was trying to kill Summers?” Nemuri Kayama asks, her voice laced with concern.
“That part is unclear. What is clear is that Fujiwara did not want Summers in foster care or taken in by the Hero Public Safety Commission. You can read about Summers in this document, but, in short, Summers has Autism Spectrum Disorder and a very powerful quirk. They got their provisional license at 10, the youngest age recorded in the United States, which is being honored here as well. Summers is selectively mute and currently hasn’t spoken a word since the incident. They know ASL, but I’m sure they can pick up on JSL quickly.”
“OHHHH YEAH!” Hizashi Yamada lets out. “I can help with that!”
Nezu nods and continues the debrief. “We need to care for Summers’ emotional state and give them a safe place to strengthen their quirk as well.”
“As we know, kids with powerful quirks can have issues controlling their quirk when experiencing emotional distress. These kinds of incidents are tragic AWOOOOOOO,” Inui Ryo starts, quickly getting too upset to keep with human speech.
“Exactly. This is why I was relieved to hear that their provisional hero license will be honored and transferred to Japan as well. It seems that Summers often helped Chinatsu with rescue missions or would rescue people’s cats stuck in trees frequently,” Nezu states.
“There seem to be many incidents of the latter,” Aizawa points out, wondering if they really had it in them to be a hero.
“Summers has a good heart, then,” Toshinori muses.
“The real issue is, how will we care for them?” Nezu points out.
“Well, considering Summers has always seemed to experience insomnia, I don’t mind having them stay with me if that is comfortable for them. I can put them to sleep, and, to be fair, Summers may be more comfortable with a woman in their current state,” Nemuri offers.
“Yes, that should work out fine. Summers already knows most of us too, don’t they?” Aizawa adds thoughtfully.
“TRUE! We did work with Gecko Girl for our internships!” Hizashi exclaims. “So Summers knows us or at least of us! They can be our NIBLING! You know, like a niece or nephew but GENDER NEUTRAL!”
Toshinori can’t help but let out an earnest laugh at Hizashi’s enthusiasm.
“Summers will be arriving within the week before our first years go on their forest training camp. I think it would be healthy for them to go and meet the other students. It would be a good opportunity to see their quirk in a safe manner as well. Only if you two have no objections,” Nezu suggests.
“How do we know they won’t be a problem for us?” Sekijro Kan grumbles.
“Considering it looks like their father idolized Stain and acted in a villainous manner, and the fact that Shiryuu-chan does not feel safe without a pro hero nearby, it is safe to say they won’t be a problem in that manner,” Aizawa states.
“But what about their autism? Do you know how to deal with that kind of thing?”
“Considering Shiryuu-chan is just like any other kid, it’ll be fine. I’ll watch over them,” Aizawa offers, instantly regretting his words as he thinks of how troublesome his class was. Then again, he didn’t have someone like Neito Monoma to frighten Shiryuu.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The police had no option other than to keep Shiryuu in foster care until someone from U.A. retrieved them. No one knew what to do with them, as all Shiryuu did was curl up in a corner of the room, their large, lavender wings surrounding them as if to keep themselves safe. Shiryuu refused to talk to the other children but patiently allowed a small child to pull on their horns.
Whenever those in charge suggest everyone go outside, Shiryuu wouldn’t move from their corner spot.
Their eyes often darted to the doors and windows, as if planning escape routes. Even the doctors couldn’t get any words out of Shiryuu.
When Hawks was designated to pick up Shiryuu, he was immediately annoyed. Why should a hero of his caliber be sent on a babysitting mission? Shouldn’t Shiryuu be able to take care of themselves? Why couldn’t someone from U.A. do it?
Hawks didn’t bring anything with him besides a small bag of toiletries and a stuffed bunny. Once outside of the airport, he immediately took off toward the orphanage. Flying there would be faster anyway.
Hawks was relieved to stretch his wings after such a long period of time and was already dreading the flight back. He couldn’t make Shiryuu fly across the ocean, and probably shouldn’t have them fly to the airport.
Hawks heads inside, greeting the staff and taking out the stuffed bunny. On the flight he did his research; he knew why the Hero Safety Commission approved such a strange mission. They mentioned seeing if Shiryuu had worth and they should argue to care for them as a reason for his approval. As for U.A., Nezu knew that Hawks had met Shiryuu as a child.
When Hawks enters the same room as Shiryuu, the two made immediate eye contact. Clearly uncomfortable, Shiryuu quickly looks away. Hawks saunters over to them before bending down to be more on Shiryuu’s level.
“Do you remember me?” he kindly asks, holding out the stuffed bunny and waving at Shiryuu with it.
Shiryuu nods and eyes the plush uncertainly. They open their wings some and flapped them lightly, only causing a disturbance in the airflow of the room. Shiryuu silently was affirming that it was Hawks who taught them to fly.
Hawks nods and explains, “I was sent to take you back to Japan. And I brought this bunny as a present.”
Hawks full well knew the rabbit was childish for Shiryuu, a fourteen-year-old, but he also knew they just lost everything.
Immediately, Shiryuu reaches out to take the rabbit.
“You’ll have to come up with a name for it now, yeah?” Hawks asks with a smile, standing up.
Shiryuu nods a little, getting to their feet. “Go now?” they manage to say their first words since the incident.
“Yes, after you grab your backpack, okay?” Hawks says, sending one of his feathers to drift it to them.
Shiryuu nods and accepts the backpack from the red feather, carefully putting it on while holding the rabbit plush’s hand. They then reach out to take Hawks’ hand but pauses, afraid they would be scolded.
Not one to miss slight movements, Hawks takes Shiryuu’s hand in his and heads out. He helps Shiryuu into the police car, as they were the ones taking them to the airport.
As both a Pro Hero and an adult accompanying an autistic minor, security was significantly easier to get through.
Hawks could immediately tell how the noises were frustrating Shiryuu by their wings’ body language. Their backpack was awkward with their wings, and Shiryuu’s wings were stiff and unmoving. Hawks lead them over to one of the stores in the airport and pays for noise-canceling headphones. Shiryuu watches him with curiosity, surprised as he takes them out of the box and places them carefully on Shiryuu’s head.
While waiting for their flight, Hawks pairs the headset to his phone and hands it to Shiryuu with the music app opened.
Hawks’ phone battery died several times during the flight, and he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of expense it would be considered for U.A. to give Shiryuu a working phone. He ultimately decided it wasn’t his problem, so he ended up falling asleep.
Hawks could not confirm or deny if Shiryuu fell asleep on the airplane. Every time he saw them, they were wide awake. Hawks hoped Midnight would take them so that Shiryuu could finally sleep.
Hawks was relieved to get off the plane, keeping his wing partially around Shiryuu to keep them safe as they did not want to hold his hand. He guided them out and to the baggage claim where Eraser Head and Present Mic were waiting.
Shiryuu looks at the pair in deep thought before approaching them, leaving the safety of Hawks’ wing.
“Oji-sans! Shota-san, Hizashi-san!” Shiryuu exclaims, flapping their wings again, this time in excitement.
“Shiryuu-chan!” Yamada responds, giving them finger guns.
“I’m glad you remember us,” Aizawa admits, thankful his wrap scarf hid his slight smile. “We will be taking you to Midnight’s-er, Kayama’s residence. Is that okay with you?”
Shiryuu nods, turning to wave then bow to Hawks in thanks.
“We have ‘em from here,” Yamada assures Hawks with a chill nod.
“We have a car outside to take you there,” Aizawa informs Shiryuu, leading them outside and towards the simple black sedan.
All three of them get in, and it quickly gets awkward, as no one knows what to say. Small talk and catching up seemed indelicate, considering the situation Shiryuu was still in.
“Do you know ASL?” Yamada decides to ask Shiryuu.
Shiryuu nods, adjusting the rabbit on their lap.
“Alright! I can teach you JSL. I dunno how similar they are, but I doubt they’re incredibly different, ya know?”
Shiryuu nods again, looking out the window.
“Kayama should have clean clothes you can wear after you wash up,” Aizawa says, filling the silence.
Shiryuu fidgets in their seat, wondering if they were smelly and hoping it wasn’t a problem for Kayama-san to get them clothes.
“I’m sure it will be nice to be in a bed in your own room,” Yamada adds, knowing Shiryuu was probably stuck with other kids in a bedroom.
“No snoring,” Shiryuu murmurs, still looking out the window.
“I bet there can be white noise if you’d like,” Yamada responds, unsure if that was something calming for them.
They nod once more, curious as they pull up to a gated residence.
“Here we are,” Aizawa says, getting out and ringing the keypad by the gate.
Nearly immediately, the three are let inside a spacious courtyard and a well-kept home.
Kayama comes out of the home squealing, “Ah! There’s my Shiryuu-chan! Let’s get you cleaned up and fed!”
Shiryuu startles at the sudden high-pitched noise, stiffening as Kayama takes their arm and drags them inside. Shiryuu tightly grips the stuffed bunny to their chest, not wanting to let it go.
“I took liberty in finding you some comfortable clothes to wear that don’t have tags on them. I don’t mind going shopping with you to find more that you will like to wear, okay?” she assures Shiryuu, leading them to the shower. “This is a clean towel and I will put the clothes outside the door, okay?”
Shiryuu nods, slowly intaking all of the information once alone in the bathroom. They absent-mindedly scratch at the lavender scales on their forearm, able to tell they would molt soon. With a sigh, they set the rabbit on the sink and begin to shower, relieved that Kayama-san found gentle and lightly scented products. Eucalyptus was always a win.
Once cleaned and dried, Shiryuu peaks out of the bathroom to grab the clothes prepared. They were cotton underwear and soft sweatpants that were gentle on their skin. The bra was a sports bra that zipped in the front, making it easy for Shiryuu to get their wings and arms through the holes. The shirt was a plain U.A. shirt, which made Shiryuu smile.
They exit the bathroom, stuffed rabbit in hand, and follow the sound of voices and the smell of food. The teachers were talking too quickly for Shiryuu to understand, so they merely stood there and shuffled their wings.
“Slower?” Shiryuu asks tentatively when Aizawa notices them.
He nods and changes the subject. “We are making ramen, but haven’t added any ingredients in case there is anything you don’t like. Come take a look and choose what you’d like,” Aizawa says, gesturing to the cut vegetables and meat on the counter.
Shiryuu walks over and begins pointing to ingredients she would eat, mostly greens but also carrots, chicken, and sesame seeds. They then pick up an egg and set it next to the bowls before getting out of the way.
The teachers do their best to take note of what Shiryuu doesn’t like despite knowing they may end up forgetting.
Shiryuu sits down and rests their arms on the table, ungracefully plopping their chin on top of them.
Kemuri approaches them and crouches down, saying, “You can sleep after you eat, ok? Would you like water, milk, ramune, or juice to drink?”
Shiryuu holds up three fingers.
“Ramune?” Kemuri uncertainly asks.
Shiryuu nods and goes to the fridge, getting a bottle of plain ramune for them.
Hizashi soon brings the two bowls and chopped sticks, going and retrieving his own bowl as Aizawa joins the two.
When Hizashi returns, Shiryuu manages to say, “Thank you for the meal, Yamada-san.”
He shrugs and declares, “Dig in!”
Shiryuu nearly falls asleep at the table, and once they finish their bowl, Midnight happily guides them to her spare room. “Let me know if you need anything, okay cutie?”
Shiryuu slowly nods, glad to be in a comfortable bed in a quiet room by themselves.
The next morning, Nemuri takes Shiryuu to U.A. as she did not want to leave Shiryuu alone, nor did she believe Shiryuu wanted to be alone.
Shiryuu tries not to get overwhelmed by meeting new people and gives their best effort to make a good impression despite bringing a plush rabbit with them. None of the teachers say anything negative about it.
Upon meeting Higari Maijima, he excitedly exclaims, “Oh ho ho! I made something for you! You’re staying with Nemuri, right? I’ll have it sent there for when you go home!”
Shiryuu is tempted to ask more, but Nezu comes at the same time.
“Shiryuu-chan, would you accompany me to my office?” he asks with a kind smile.
Shiryuu nods and follows him, bowing to Higari Sensei before going.
“Have you named the rabbit yet?” Nezu asks, leading the way to his office.
Shiryuu shakes their head no, and he smiles again.
“That’s okay. I’m sure the perfect name will come to you soon,” he assures her. Once in his office, he goes to his desk and opens a drawer. Shiryuu sits across from him as Nezu continues talking. “I have a few things to give you now that you are here,” he explains, setting two cosmetic-looking bottles on the desk and a small box. “I was told you haven’t molted yet, and this helps shine scales for when you do, and this one is to aid with molting. It helps with itching, it seems. Then this box is a phone for you. That way you can listen to music and call us if you need help. It’s already been set up and has the teachers’ numbers in it for an emergency.”
Despite honestly being the bare minimum, Shiryuu begins to tear up at Nezu’s consideration.
“It’s alright, Shiryuu. We are going to take care of you,” Nezu softly assures them, hopping off his seat and bringing them tissues. “While it is quite a strange situation, we are here to take care of you.”